Requesting data

How to request data

Check if data is already available

It saves a lot of yours and our time if you look for the data you want first through the available documentation. See the Finding datasets page on this wiki for suggestions on how to do that.

It is worth pointing out that we do not download anymore CMIP and ERA5 data, these are managed by NCI and so requests have to go to them. Refer to the NCI confluence website (CMIP and ERA5 links) on how to do that.

Detailing your request

The more detailed is your request, the faster we can give you an answer and, in case this is positive, the actual data download. Wherever possible try to include:

  • the actual dataset official name and/or acronym, avoid alternative or obsolete names;
  • the url of the official metadata record for the dataset;
  • the url for the data portal from which the data is available for download, or for a set of instructions, if it is not directly available;
  • if more than one version/format is available for the same data  be specific about the version/format you need;
  • if a different version/format for the same data is already available at NCI, please detail why this version/format is not suitable;
  • the variables, frequency, and any other relavnt information (i.e. experiments, models, where this is a collection of datasets) of the subset you need;
  • an estimate of the data subset size.

Mail CWS helpdesk

Once you have worked the details of your request you need to contact the CWS helpdesk cws_help{at}nci.org.au. You are more likely to receive a quick answer and it helps us keep a track of your request.

What happens next

First, we will check if the data is already available. If we confirm it is not already available at NCI, we will:

  • assess the storage and work involved in downloading the data based on the information you sent:
    • if we don't have enough information, we will contact you and ask to clarify your request until we can assess it
    • if the data requires a substantial amount of work and/or storage we have to contact the Infrastructure Committee to request permission to proceed. The Committee will decide if the data is worth the effort and resources necessary.
  • In any other case we will get back to you with a timeframe and a location for the data
  • We usually store new data in the ua8 project, unless there is a dedicated project for the dataset already available.